Setting Objectives – an effective strategy used in order for students to take ownership of their learning goals.
Setting Objectives or setting learning goals for students to reach, improves a child’s chances of succeeding significantly. Setting these goals allow students to take responsibility for what they learn throughout the school year.
In order for this strategy to be effective teachers must take two things into consideration:
Have you selected/refined what the learning goal will be?
Are these goals broad or narrow?
Can the student’s goals be monitored?
The following video provides an example of how to allow students to set their goals in an effective manner.
A teacher must know exactly what he/she expects from his/her students. After one is aware of the goal that needs to be met, they must make sure that the focus is that of a broad one; studies have proven that goals with a narrow focus will actually minimize learning. Lastly, allowing students to remind themselves of what their goal was or helping them keep track on how close they are to reaching their goal, will inform them on whether they are heading down the path of achieving their initial objective or not. Examples to doing so are as follows:
Student/Teacher Contract- A teacher can always refer to this document whenever a student becomes discouraged or forgets their initial goal.
Parent Signatures - Involve the parents so that students will have more support and will have to hold more accountability for their actions or lack thereof.
Digital Videos- have students make a brief video about what their goals are and what they can do to accomplish them; a fun way to get students excited about learning.
Setting Objectives or setting learning goals for students to reach, improves a child’s chances of succeeding significantly. Setting these goals allow students to take responsibility for what they learn throughout the school year.
In order for this strategy to be effective teachers must take two things into consideration:
- Have you selected/refined what the learning goal will be?
- Are these goals broad or narrow?
- Can the student’s goals be monitored?
The following video provides an example of how to allow students to set their goals in an effective manner.A teacher must know exactly what he/she expects from his/her students. After one is aware of the goal that needs to be met, they must make sure that the focus is that of a broad one; studies have proven that goals with a narrow focus will actually minimize learning. Lastly, allowing students to remind themselves of what their goal was or helping them keep track on how close they are to reaching their goal, will inform them on whether they are heading down the path of achieving their initial objective or not. Examples to doing so are as follows: